Chapter 1
Lauren
I love the days when I start on a new case, working with someone new, and being able to help them. I love this case even more because this is the first time I’m working at Oakside.
While I was in school, I volunteered and assisted a disabled veteran. That experience made me want to work with injured vets as a career, and now is my chance.
The patient I’ll be working with lost his sight serving his country, and I’ll be helping him learn to navigate the world again. I can’t think of a more rewarding job.
Plus, I’ll be helping him set up with a Seeing-Eye dog, and I love anything that allows me to work with dogs. If I were guaranteed a dog as well trained as the dogs I work with, I'd get one in a heartbeat, but the job doesn't allow much time for training.
I've been working with the hospital on the details and setting up this patient's room, and today, I’m finally meeting him. As I'm going over the details from the hospital, I barely glance at the name. I walk into his room, and stop short.
I don't need to look at the name on the file anymore because I’d know that face anywhere.
Gavin.
My high school sweetheart and the only man to thoroughly own and crush my heart. The only man I’ve ever loved is sitting in front of me as my new patient. How the hell did this happen?
We broke up after we graduated from high school. Since I was going away to college, and he decided to join the military, he said he didn't want to do the long-distance relationship thing. The last time I saw him was the day before he left for boot camp. Then nothing. Not a letter or even a friend mentioning him since.
I begged him not to break up with me and tried to show him how we could make it work. I said I’d go to school wherever he was stationed, but none of it helped. He walked away from me that day, and I haven't seen or heard from him since. Maybe if he’d known fate was going to send us a little twist, he wouldn't have walked away so easily.
Neither of us knew then, and there's nothing we can do about it now.
Instead of entering the room, I turn and head right back to Lexi's office downstairs. I collapse on her couch and take a minute to gather my thoughts.
Lexi may be the owner of Oakside and my boss, but she’s also my friend. Now that she’s pregnant, her husband has added this couch for his pregnant wife.
"I can't do this," I tell her.
"Oh, I know some of these men can be resistant to help, but stick with it. They'll open up slowly. He just got here, so he's still coming to terms with losing his sight. The transition from the hospital to here is difficult, with a new place and new people."
"It’s not that."
Lexi is quiet for a moment, and when I look over at her, she’s turned in her chair to face me.
"Then what is it?" Noah, Lexi's husband, asks as he steps into the room.
"Gavin is my ex-boyfriend from high school," I tell her because she knows the story of Gavin and me. One girl's night with a bunch of wine led to me spilling my guts. It’s great to have someone to talk to and share.
"The Gavin?" she gasps.
"The one and only."
Judging by the look on Noah's face, he has an idea of who Gavin is. I'm sure Lexi will give him the rundown, as those two have absolutely no secrets from each other. They're the kind of couple everyone wants to be, but few are lucky enough to find a partner like Noah.
Noah is the reason Lexi started Oakside. He, too, was injured in the line of duty but had no place to continue the healing process. Lexi wasn't going to let that happen to anyone else if she could prevent it.
"You know you're not going to like what I have to say," Lexi says after a moment.
"I hate pep talks. I was hoping for the pity party today," I grumble.
"No pity party. You might be the best person to get him through this. You know Easton and Paisley's story. No one could reach him until Paisley. She was the one person from his past he clung to. And from the sounds of it, you might be that one person for Gavin."
I know she's probably right, and besides, who in their right mind is going to argue with a pregnant woman? But it doesn't mean I'm happy about it. I don't know if I’m Gavin's person to help him pull through, but I do know I'm not willing to give up on him.
"Do you want to come for dinner after work and tell me all about it?" Lexi asks.
"I can't tonight, but I reserve the right to come and complain at any time because I'm sure I’ll need it." I stand and give Lexi a hug before slowly heading back upstairs.
I can do this. I have to do this.
I tell myself this over and over with each step I take, but when I get to the lobby, I stall. I look at all the family members visiting. If Gavin had let me and not been so stubborn, I could be here as a visitor.
I could’ve been the one to get the call he was injured and been at his side the whole time. It's not right he's been fighting alone.
No, Lauren. Put that wall up. This isn't personal. He’s a patient. You can think about all this tonight. But right now, you need to go back in there and take care of your new patient.
In the back of my mind, there's a voice telling me this is exactly why he did what he did. He didn't want me waiting at home for the phone call. But it's almost worse finding out this way and knowing he didn't have anyone there for him.
I can do this. I have to do this.
I repeat it a few more times before I take a deep breath and walk down the hallway to his room. This time when I get to his door, I knock and tell myself it's just another patient, and that’s how I’ll treat him.
"Who is it?"
"My name is Lauren." His whole body goes stiff, and at that moment, a million thoughts race in my mind. Does he remember me? Everything I was going to say to keep it professional leaves my head.
I can’t remember the rest of the speech I had prepared. So I blurt out the first thing that comes to my mind. "Lexi asked me to check on you."
Really, Lauren? That's all you've got?
I don't sound like the professional I know I am. I sound like the scared little girl seeing the man she loves for the first time in six years.
"Why would she do that?" His deep voice fills the room, and for a brief moment, it’s like nothing has changed. As if I'm the same girl from all those years ago, and he's still mine. I force myself to remember that's not the case and get my head on straight.
"I'm here to help you transition into the world without your sight and to work with you on training your Seeing Eye dog."
He doesn't respond right away, and I wonder if he recognizes my voice. It's been years, so the chance of him remembering me is slim, yet I can’t help hoping he does.
There's also the possibility he could kick me out of his room and request someone else. This would mean the end of our interaction, and I have so much I want to tell him now our paths have crossed again. With all my heart, I hope I’ll get that chance.
My phone rings, and a glance shows it's my son's school. Great timing, buddy. I’ll tell him this story one day, probably over drinks when he's twenty-one.
"I have to take this. I’ll only be a moment," I tell Gavin.
I step into the lobby, where I know he won't be able to hear me. "Hello?" I answer, expecting to get the nurse.
"Mom? James is staying for Comic Book Club today. Can I stay too? It's free, and James has a comic book I can borrow."
Graham’s new hobby is comic books, and there’s a club at school. I don't remember having so many after-school activities in first grade, but he’s always getting into something.
"Yes, that's fine. I’ll text Ms. Jessica so she knows you’ll be staying after school."
Thankfully, James’s mom is great about picking the kids up after school and watching my son for me. If her son is going, it won't be a problem for Graham to go too.
"And Mom?" His voice is small and hesitant, which means he's nervous about whatever he wants to ask.
"What is it, buddy?" I glance down the hallway to Gavin's room, making sure he hasn't followed me out here.
"There’s a father-son camping trip. James has been talking about it today. His dad is going."
"Oh, buddy. Can we talk when I get home?"
The mom guilt hits me hard. I know the day is coming when my half-answers about his dad won't cut it anymore. I hope this isn't the day because it's more complicated than ever.
"Yeah. Spaghetti night. Right?" His mood perks up.
With any luck, he’ll have forgotten all about the trip by dinner tonight, and it’ll be a few more days before he brings it up again. I need to figure things out.
"Of course, buddy. Have fun at Comic Book Club. Tell me all about it later, okay? Don't forget to tell them you’ll miss the car wash because we’ll be in Arizona visiting Grandma and Grandpa."
Another wave of mom guilt. It won’t be a simple trip. Yet another secret that could uproot my son’s life in an instant.
"I told them this morning. I still get to help decorate signs before we go." He's so excited, and why shouldn't he be?
He's making friends and fitting in great at school. He’s settling into our life here better than I could’ve hoped.
"Bye, Mom. Love you."
"I love you too, buddy."
We hang up, and I quickly text James’s mom about Comic Book Club. She’s more than happy for him to go, and she’s planned some special snacks after school.
My professional and personal lives are crashing together, and I'm not sure what to do.
Staring back down the hallway, I know I have to face the one person who ties these two lives together.
